Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving has been named the recipient of the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the 2011-12 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award, the NBA, Kia Motors and Cavaliers announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Irving received a total of 592 points, including 117 first-place votes out of a possible 120, from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received.

The 6-foot-3 point guard averaged 18.5 points on .469 shooting, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.5 minutes per game. He also shot .399 from three-point range and .872 from the free throw line. Among all rookies, he ranked first in points per game (by a margin of 5.7 points) and free throw percentage, second in three-point percentage, assists per game and player efficiency rating (21.5) and fifth in field goal percentage. Irving swept the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award each month this season (Dec./Jan., Feb. and March) with the exception of April, in which he only played in six of a possible 16 games due to injury. He was also named MVP of the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend after posting game highs of 34 points and nine assists and shooting a perfect 8-8 from three-point range.

In receiving the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award this season, he becomes just the second player in franchise history to receive the award (LeBron James) and the third No. 1 overall pick in the past four seasons to win the award, joining Chicago’s Derrick Rose (2008-09) and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (2010-11). He also joins Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson and James as the only No. 1 overall draft picks to average at least 18.0 points and 5.0 assists and is one of just six rookies in league history to post averages of at least 18.0 points, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steal and .450 shooting along with Alvan Adams, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Grant Hill and Tyreke Evans. He and Larry Bird are the only rookies in NBA history to average over 18.0 points and shoot at least .399 from three-point range.

In the fourth quarter this season, the 20-year-old led all rookies in scoring (6.4) while ranking fifth overall (behind only NBA All-Stars Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose and Kevin Love). He also led all rookies in scoring in the final three minutes of games (3.2) and trailed only Chris Paul for the league lead.

On three occasions, Irving scored the game-winning basket or made the go-ahead free throws to lead the Cavaliers to victory: at Boston on Jan. 29, against Sacramento on Feb. 19 and at Denver on March 7. His game-winning layup at Boston made him the third-youngest player (19 years, 312 days) to make a game-winning shot (field goal or free throw) since 2002-03, behind only Kevin Durant (19 years, 48 days) and Shaun Livingston (19 years, 206 days).

As part of its supports of the Rookie of the Year Award, Kia Motors America donated, in Kyrie’s name, a brand new 2012 Kia Sorento CUV to the New Jersey Roadrunners, his former AAU basketball team and program.

The Eddie Gottlieb Trophy is named in honor of Eddie Gottlieb, one of the NBA’s founders who coached the Philadelphia Warriors to the NBA championship in 1946-47.

2011-12 Kia NBA Rookie Of The Year Award Voting Results

Rookie, Team

1st

2nd

3rd

Total

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland

117

2

1

592

Ricky Rubio, Minnesota

–

49

23

170

Kenneth Faried, Denver

1

30

34

129

Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio

1

9

15

47

Iman Shumpert, New York

1

7

7

33

Klay Thompson, Golden State

–

5

15

30

Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento

–

6

10

28

Brandon Knight, Detroit

–

6

3

21

Chandler Parsons, Houston

–

3

5

14

MarShon Brooks, New Jersey

–

1

1

4

Kemba Walker, Charlotte

–

–

3

3

Josh Selby, Memphis

–

–

1

1

Kyrie Irving’s Season Highlights

In his NBA debut, dished out seven assists (to one turnover) and added six points and three rebounds in 26 minutes against Toronto on Dec. 26. Became first rookie in franchise history to have at least seven assists to just one turnover in their NBA debut.

Recorded the first 20-point game of his career with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes at Indiana on Dec.30.

Against New Jersey on Jan. 27, scored 21 of his season-high 32 points in the fourth quarter, including 17 in the last 2:58 becoming the first rookie to score at least 21 points in the fourth quarter of a game since Marcus Williams of New Jersey (November 24, 2006) and first player to score 17 or more points in the final three minutes of a game since Vince Carter, who did it with the Nets (April 11, 2006).

At Boston on Jan 29, scored the game-winning layup with 2.6 seconds remaining. He finished with game highs in points (23) and assists (6).

Notched a game-high tying 23 points, including shooting 5-5 from the foul line, in 39 minutes against Sacramento on Feb. 19. Trailing by one with 2.9 seconds remaining, Irving knocked down two free throws to win the game.

Dished out eight assists, to go along with 25 points on 8-15 (.533) shooting in 39 minutes of work against the Pistons on Feb. 21. In the fourth quarter, he scored 17 points on 6-9 (.667) shooting, including 3-3 from three-point range.

Scored or assisted on the Cavs’ final 12 points in the last 2:36 of the game, including making the game-winning layup with 4.0 seconds remaining, in a 100-99 win at Denver on Mar 7.

Had a career-high 12 assists, to go along with nine points in 31 minutes against the Thunder on Mar. 9, including scoring the go-ahead basket in the fourth quarter to help the Cavs to a 96-90 road victory, snapping Oklahoma City’s 14-game home winning streak.

Scored 28 points on 11-16 (.688) shooting and added three rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes at Milwaukee on Mar. 14.

Recorded his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 assists in 37 minutes against Atlanta on Mar. 18.

Finished with 29 points, a career-high nine rebounds and nine assists in a career-high 42 minutes at Atlanta on Mar. 21, becoming the only rookie this season to reach totals of at least 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a game.

Went 6-6 from three-point range and finished with a game-high 29 points on 11-20 (.550) shooting, to go along with a team-high five assists and three rebounds in 32 minutes against Milwaukee on Mar. 30. By shooting a perfect 6-6 from three-point range, he became the first rookie in the NBA to make at least six three’s in a game without a miss since Stephen Curry for Golden State on Jan. 5, 2010. Irving also set the Cavalier rookie record for the most three-pointers made in a game and most three-pointers made in a game without a miss.

Scored a game-high 25 points on 10-16 (.625) shooting in only 29 minutes at Memphis on April 23. He also added four assists and three steals.

“Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving was named today as the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in the month of March.

Irving appeared in 15 games in March and averaged 19.9 points on .458 shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 32.3 minutes per game. During the month, Irving ranked first in scoring, three-point percentage (.413), free throw percentage (.881) and assists, and finished second in field goal percentage and steals (1.5) among Eastern Conference rookies. Irving scored 20 or more points in eight games (the most 20-point games by a rookie in the month), and shot at least .500 from the field six times. Irving also averaged 7.4 points per fourth quarter in the month, which was the most among all Eastern Conference rookies. On the season, Irving is averaging 18.9 points, which leads all rookies, on .471 shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 31.5 minutes per game.

Kyrie PotM

Against the Nuggets on Mar. 7, Irving scored or assisted on the Cavs final 12 points in the last 2:36 of the game, including making the game-winning layup with 4.0 seconds remaining, in a 100-99 win at Denver. He finished the game with 18 points, a game-high eight assists, five rebounds and three steals in 33 minutes. Irving set a career high in assists with 12, to go along with nine points, six rebounds and three steals against the Thunder on Mar. 9. In that contest, Irving scored the go-ahead basket in the fourth quarter to help the Cavs to a 96-90 road victory, snapping Oklahoma City’s 14-game home winning streak.

Irving recorded his first career double-double against Atlanta on Mar. 18 with 19 points and 10 assists in 37 minutes. He also finished with 29 points, a career-high nine rebounds, nine assists and three steals at Atlanta on Mar. 21, becoming the first rookie this season to reach totals of at least 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. On Mar. 30 against the Bucks, the 6-3 point guard scored a game-high 29 points and added five assists in 32 minutes, while also shooting a perfect 6-6 on three-pointers, becoming the first rookie in the NBA to make at least six three-pointers without a miss since Stephen Curry of Golden State on Jan. 5, 2010.”

“Jason Kapono’s second tour of duty with the Cavaliers ended before it began.

Kapono, acquired Thursday in the trade with the Los Angeles Lakers will be waived, a league source said. The club plans to sign shooting guard Manny Harris for the remainder of the season.

Coach Byron Scott has hinted the past two days the team might bring back Harris, who played sparingly during two 10-day contracts recently.

The Cavaliers signed point guard Donald Sloan from the D-League Erie Bayhawks earlier on Friday.

The club picked up Kapono as part of the deal that sent Ramon Sessions and Christian Eyenga to the Lakers for Luke Walton, a lottery-protected, first-round pick and the right to swap first-round draft picks in 2013. Kapono, who played one season (2003-04) with the Cavaliers, will become an unrestricted free agent.

The team likely will pay him approximately $400,000 that is left on his one-year deal. The Cavaliers roster is back to a full 15 players. They host Atlanta on Sunday at The Q. “

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Donald Sloan from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League for the remainder of the 2011-12 season, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today. The signing of Sloan marks the 34th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 season.

In eight games (all starts), Sloan has averaged 22.8 points on .496 shooting, 5.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 38.6 minutes per game with the BayHawks. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound guard from Texas A&M has appeared in eight NBA games this season, playing five games for the Atlanta Hawks and three games for the New Orleans Hornets. In eight NBA games, Sloan averaged 2.3 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.6 assists in 7.4 minutes per game.

The 24-year-old spent the 2010-11 season with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, playing in 49 games (33 starts) and posting averages of 10.7 points on .483 shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 27.7 minutes per game.

Kyrie Irving was named today as the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in the month of February.

Irving played in 10 games during February and averaged 19.3 points on .422 shooting, 3.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 35.3 minutes per game. During the month, he ranked 1st in scoring, three-point percentage, free throw percentage and assists among Eastern Conference rookies. Irving scored 20 or more points in six of 10 games (the most 20-point games by a rookie in the month) and shot at least .500 from the field four times in games played in February. Irving also averaged 6.8 points per fourth quarter in the month, which was the most among all Eastern Conference rookies.

RotM

For the month, Irving shot 41-43 (.953) from the free throw line and has currently made 31 consecutive free throws. His .953 free throw percentage is the highest by a rookie in a month since Chauncey Billups set an NBA rookie record by going 41 for 41 in March 1998 (minimum 40 free throw attempts).

Irving notched a game-high tying 23 points, including 5-5 from the foul line, in 39 minutes against Sacramento on Feb. 19. Trailing by one with 2.9 seconds remaining, Irving knocked down two free throws to win the game. Irving scored 25 points on 8-15 (.533) shooting to go along with eight assists in 39 minutes of work against the Pistons on Feb. 21. In the fourth quarter, Irving scored 17 points on 6-9 (.667) shooting, including 3-3 from three-point range. The 6-foot-3 rookie set a career high in assists with 11, with only two turnovers against the Hornets on Feb. 22.